Tom Brady fined $10,000 for leg striking Ed Reed on slide

The NFL has fined New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady $10,000 for unnecessary roughness for kicking Ravens free safety Ed Reed in the midst of a slide, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Fines have become standardized under the NFL collective bargaining agreement for certain infractions like this one.

During the end of the first half of the Ravens' 28-13 victory in the AFC championship, Brady was sliding when he made contact with the Reed. Reed didn't issue a comment about Brady's punishment during a media session today at the Ravens' training complex.

Brady had previously apologized to Reed for his actions during and after the game. Video footage of the game showed Brady immediately going up to Reed after the play and saying he was sorry.

"Leg is feeling all right, a little sore right now," Reed told 105.7 The Fan in a Monday radio interview. "A little slide kick, you know what I'm saying. It's a tough spot the quarterback's in. I understand Brady's point, him protecting himself. I know he's a great player. I respect Brady and his game for all it stands for, and I know he's not a dirty player, and emotions get going in the game.

"We talked actually not too long ago, we talked on the phone. He actually reached out to me, texted me. I tried to text him back, but the message exploded after 12 seconds. So, I had to call him. And he's just apologized and whatnot. I told him, 'It's good, man.'"

Ravens strong safety Bernard Pollard had already weighed in on the matter, stating that he thinks the NFL should fine Brady for lifting his right leg and striking Reed in the leg while sliding. Quarterbacks are protected from being hit under the NFL rule book when they go to the ground and slide.

"When you slide, obviously quarterbacks know when they slide, everything is on the ground," Pollard said Monday. "He knew what he was doing. So, I'm the type of player it has to go both ways. It really does. It has to go both ways. Hopefully, the NFL will do something about it. If they don't, that's fine. If they do, that's fine.

"I think for me as a player we all know emotions are on the field. We're going to say things. We're going to do things, but, when it's all said and done, if you want to keep the game clean, if you want to keep this thing going in the right direction, everybody needs to be penalized for their actions."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh was also asked Monday about Brady's slide.

Harbaugh was irate after the play and complained to officials about the lack of a penalty.

"I saw the same thing you saw," Harbaugh said. "I saw the same thing everybody saw, so that would be in the league’s hands. It’s pretty straightforward what happened. I’m going to leave it up to you guys to make those evaluations and to the league to make that evaluation."